Switch and the like



Dec. 8, l925 1,564,340

M. c. GARLICK SWITCH AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 22. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORl E@ Wwwww ATTORNEY Patented Der. 8, 1925.

FATENT OFFICE.

MAURICE C. GARLCK, GF EASTGN, PENNSYLVANIA.

SW'TGH AND THE LiKE.

Application filed August 22, 1923.

T all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ltiAUioE C. GARLICK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Easton, county of Northampton, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Switches and the like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the construction of railway switches, mates, frogs and the like.

According to one feature of my invention, the supporting part of the switch, mate, frog, or the like structure and the wearing portions thereof are made separately, and

the wearing portion is made removable from the supporting portion.

According to another feature of the invention, provision is made for automatically supporting the heel of the switch tongue in properly elevated position, notwithstanding the wearA to which same is subjected in use.

All the parts of apparatus in accordance g with my invention are preferably so constructed that they may be installed, renewed or removed with a minimum of labor and trouble. This feature is of great utility in enabling necessary installations and changes to be made readily and substantially without interruption to traffic. Other objects of the invention will appear in connection with the following description of an embodiment of the invention illustrated and described to afford an understanding of the invention, but not imposing limitations thereon.

in the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a switch. Fig. 2 is a part sectional and side view of the switch shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view showing the general relation of the switch supporting structure to the road bed. Fig. t is a cross-section on line 1e-1f, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a section on line 6 6, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a cross-section on line 7 7, Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is an isoinetrical view of the switch supporting member.

Fig. 9 is a perspective of the removable switch wearing member, and Fig. 10 is a perspective of the switch tongue.

The switch supporting member or housing 10 is constructed to form a permanent part ofthe track installation and is supported on suitable. supports, such as cross-ties 11. It

Serial No. 658,696.

preferably is constructed as a steel casting comprising side walls 12, 12 and integral cross-webs 13, 13, which preferably extend downward flush with the bottom 14 of member 10, but do not extend upwardly as far as the side walls 12, 12, leaving open spaces between them and leaving a recess 15 above them and between the upper' parts of sidewalls 12, 12, in which recess the removable wearing switch or mate member 16 is received and supported. The side wall members 12, 12 and recess 15 are of such form as to receive the removable wearing members provided. In the form shown recess 15 is widened out at its end 15* where the heel of the switch is located and narrowed at the end 15b, where the point end of the switch is located.

The removable wearing member 16 is constructed separately, preferably as a casting and of a material, such as high manganese steel, having` a tough body with a surface which is hardened by the pounding to which it is subjected in wear. Such removable wearing member 16 is of any suitable construction and may be a frog, mate or the like, or may comprise switch rails 17, 18, pivot member 19 for the switch tongue and the switch tongue 20. The rails 17, 18 are preferably formed integral with the bottoni web or floor plate 21, which is of a form adapted to be received in the recess 15 of the housing 10, and to be supported upon the cross webs 13.

Means are provided for locking the wearing part member 16 in the housing or supporting member 10, and in the form shown wedging keys 22 are provided for this purpose. These keys, which are 'widened at the bottom at 22a, and provided at said widened portions 22a with extending por- Il i) of showing, but as many slot-s and wedges may be provided as may be needed, and other forms of connecting or keying means may be used.

lt will be see-n that with the construction so far described, the housing or supporting portion of the switch7 mate or frog may be cheaply constructed of inexpensive material and permanently installed, while the more expensive partsubjected to greatest wear is made eparately and inserted and keyed in place. This results in great saving in construction cost, and the inserted parts when worn can be removed and replaced in a few moments and at relatively small expense. Furthermore, ample clearance space is provided therebelow in the housing 10 so that drainage is quick and complete and the switch can not readily freeze up, and if the space under member 1G should become clogged after some time, the removable part 1G can be removed upon loosening and pulling out a few wedges and the space below it cleaned out and the member 16 removed with the greatest simplicity and readiness. The web or floor plate member 21 connecting rail members 17 and 1S has an extensive and ample seating on webs 13 throughout its width and length, and being wedged downwardly upon its supports is firmly and securely held and supported. lVhile I have shown the two part construction above referred to, particularly in connection with switches, it is to be understood that same is applicable to mates, crossovers, frogs and other intersecting track sections where extremely heavy wear is encountered.

The tongue 2() is supported on the floor plate 21, and for the most part suc-h support is sutlicient even after considerable wear.

At theheel or pivot part 20a of tongue 20, where wear on tongue 20 is concentrated and greatest, as soon as any looseness or give is caused byvwheels running onto the heel of the switch tongue, such looseness: and wear is cumulative, and the switch constriction is speedily subjected to heavy hammering and pounding strains, and even to breakage, if this condition is permitted to continue.

According to one feature of. my invention provision is made for automatically compensating for wear at this point as fast as same occurs, thereby avoiding the dangerous and troublesome condition above referred to.

In jthe construction shown such automatic compensation is secured as follows. The integral floor plate 21 of member 16 is stepped down at 2) under .the heel 2Oa of switch tongue 20, and this stepped down part 29 extends below the fixed pivot member 19, being narrowed to substantially a point at the innermost portion as indicated at 30. The heel 20 of tongue 2O terminates at the top thereof in a concave arcuate margin 31, which is adapted to fit against the coacting convex arcuate margin 32 of stationary pivot member 19. The under part of heel portion 2On of tongue 2O is provided with downwardly and rearwardly extending portions 33, 34 respectively, the former of which extends down to 'the stepped down portion 29 of wearing member floor 2l, and the. latter of which is pointed at 35. The pointed part fits in the similarly shaped recess 36, thus permitting the tongue 2O to turn pivotally about the point 35, which is at substantially the center of the curves 31, 82. The under surface 37 of the downward extension 33 is preferably formed on a slight incline and may be provided with a series of small steps 37 or the like arranged on an incline. The heelV 2On of tongue 20 is supported by such under surface 37 resting on a wedge block 38, which preferably has a series of flat steps 39 arranged on an incline which is the reverse of inclined under surface 37, the wedge block 3S being supported on the stepped down portion 29 forming an integral part of the removable wear member 1G.

The extension of tongue 20, taking under the stationary pivot member 19, provides a stop against upward movement of the neel of tongue 20, as is clearly shown in Fig.

Means are provided for forcing'the wedging block 88 into wedging engagement with the under surface 37 of the heel of tongue 20. In the form shown, spring mea-ns are utilized for this purpose, and same is located in a box i0 on the outside of one of the walls 12 of housing member 10. An Opeliing 4:1 is provided for enabling communication between box L10 and the space within housing 10, and is so arranged as to make the variousV parts readily accessible for as sembly and removal of parts.

A lever 4:2 extends through this opening fil and has a hooked inner end 42 adapted to be engaged with one or another of the plurality of notches il?, provided in the downward extension 21a of floor 21, thereby providing lor adjustability of lever 42. Lever a2 hears against the thicker end of wedge block 38, which preferably has a notch or recess S8 for keeping lever 42, in proper relation thereto. as shown in Figs. 1 and G, and is provided at its outer end within the box d0 with spring means for holding it against block 38, so as to secure wedging engagement between wedge block 38v and the under surface 3?' of the heel 2()a of tongue 20.

This spring and its supports are so constructed and arranged as to be readily assembled and readily removable and so that any desired tension can be put on the spring.

A pull spring et is used for the reason that it is practically self-cleaning or selflll) lil

Yfreeing, and in case of freezing or clogging it is not put out ot action as a compression spring may be. @ne end Llof spring is hooked over the hook shaped end i6 of lever 42. The opposite end il? is connected to a yoke il provided with a plurality ot notches 9. ln the lorm shown, a crossbar hav'ng a hook form twist 5L at its middle is engaged by such hook 5l with the end el? of spring Lid, and the ends ot such cross-bar 50 are inserted in any one of the several pain4 of notches 49 in yoke 48. A pair ot lug 53 Yformed on the inner sides ot bof; l0 and are adapted 'lo be engaged by slots or recesses 5st in the yoke S so as to form a pivotal support ttor :aid yoke. Such pivotal vsupport being higl'icr than lever 42, and the stop bar for yoke 48 being also located 'fairly low in the bonY and below the pivotal support at 53 for yoke d8, it will be seen that in tensioning or stretching the spring del by depressing the yoke i8 until it strikes stop member the yoke 4S passes the dead renter and holds the spring in its ex', ended state. Box Li0 is supplied with a removable cover fitting in groove 56 and preferably flush with the top ot housing lo.

lt will be seen that the parts described eiifectively prevent excessive deprcfission and wear of the heel part of the switch tongue and that they can be assenibled and disassembled practically without tools in the most expeditious way. The yoke i8 being lifted, the cross-barl spring and yoke may all be lifted out and the lever 42 and wedge block 38 removed through the side hole al, anc reversely the wedge block may be put in place, the lever #l2 hooked in one of the notches d3, d3, and the yoke put into place and the spring del connected thereto by the cross-bar 50, which is put into the pair o' notches yi9, 49 on yoke 48, which will give the desired spring tension. rlhe yoke e8 being pushed down, stretching spring and bringing it into a state of tension, the entire assembly is complete and ready tor use and the box cover may be replaced.

claim:

l. intersecting railway track parts, com prising a housing part adaptedl to be carried by the ties and comprising side walls and vertically arranged cross webs oit less height than the side walls, and; a separate wearing` part carried by cross web portions of the housing part, and means for removably securing such parts together.

In an intersecting railway track parts, a supporting member of material, such as cast steel, comprising side plates and cross webs terminating below the upper edges of the side plates. a removable wearing portion inserted in said supporting member between the side plates and carried upon said crosswebs, and means at the edges ot the wearing portion for removably securing same lo the said side plates.

El. ln railway track members, such as switches, 'frogs and the like, a permanent housing adapted to be carried by cross-ties1 or the like, having a recess in its upper surface with a flat horizontal bearing portion, a removable wearing member of high wear resisting properties having a 'fiat horizontal undersurface and adapted to be received in said recess, and wedge means for removably holding said members in such relative position with their flat bearing surfaces in firm contact, said housing comprising side bars and cross-connecting bars cast into an integral structure.

4:. lThe combination with a switch tongue of wedge means for supporting same to compensate or wear.

5. The combination with a switch tongue oi a stop for preventing' upward movement thereof, and wedge means for holding the switch tongue up against the stop.

6. In combination a switch tongue, means tor holding' its heel against rising, a wedge under the heel of the switch tongue for wedging same upwardly and spring means for resiliently forcing the wedge into wedging engagement with the under side ot the switch tongue.

7. ln combination a switch tongue pivoted to turn on its heel, means comprising a rearward extension of the switch tongue for holding the heel of the switch tongue down, a wedge under the tongue heel, and adjustable spring tension means for forcing the wedge into wedging engagement with the under side of the heel of the switch tongue.

8. In combination, switch rail members and a cross-connecting member formed integral with the switch rail members, said cross-connecting member having an integral stepped down portion, a switch tongue with its heel over such stepped down portion and a wedge between the said stepped down portion and the switch tongue heel.

9. In combination, switch rail members and a cross-connecting member formed integral with the switch. rail members, said cross-connecting member having an integral stepped down portion, a switch tongue with its heel over such stepped down portion, a wedge between the said stepped down portion and the switch tongue heel, and spring means for forcing the wedge into wedging engagement with the under side oi the heel of the switch tongue.

10. A .switch tongue having an inclined under part, and a wedge member therebeneath adapted to coact with said inclined portion and wedge same upwardly.

il. A switch tongue, means Jfor holding he heel of the tongue down and wedging means comprising relatively short eubszmtially flat steps for holding the heel of said ongue upward.

l2. A switch tongue, 1m extension from he lower part thereofE stop mesme engaging said extension for pieveA o seme 15mm rising, Wedgng means U11-ler the heel of the switch comprising n phuality of Telatively short stepped Wedge portions,y and spring means for holding said Y-.feclglng means into Weflglng engagement and pre- 1venting looseness o1 the switch tongue clue wear.

ln testimony whereof, I have signed my name heeto.

B/IAURCE C. GAJLIC. 

